20th Century American History - Relations - General & Miscellaneous, China - Diplomatic Relations, Asia, Australasia & Oceania - Diplomatic Relations with the U.S., 20th Century American History - Cold War, World War II - General & Miscellaneous
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Overview
This general history, based on archival and monographic sources, some of which were not available to earlier writers, is designed to be a balanced and comprehensive synthesis. Seldom does a historian come upon a richer mix of colorful personalities, dramatic action, Byzantine intrigue, and momentous historical issues. The impact of Americans on China during the war was enormous. Much of U.S. activity in China, because of inadequate knowledge of China's culture, government, and military capabilities, was harmful to China and Chiang's regime. Moreover, U.S. efforts to induce Chiang to make reforms designed to improve his regime's war effort and chances for post-war survival were ineffective. The sulfurous American General Joseph Stilwell, assigned to serve as Chiang's chief of staff, underestimating the fighting ability of the Japanese and disregarding Chiang's advice, followed a strategy in the first Burma campaign that contributed to the loss of Chiang's best divisions and the chance of holding north Burma. Stilwell's obsessive demand for a new Burma campaign involved him in bitter controversies with Chiang, the British, and U.S. Air Commander Claire Chennault. When the British demanded that Stilwell be removed from Burma, he, with Roosevelt's support, demanded that Chiang turn over to him the command of China's armed forces, which was equivalent to control of China. But Americans could not enforce this demand on Chiang, who expelled Stilwell from China. Ambassador Patrick Hurley then attempted to arrange a coalition government between Chiang and the Communists, a proposal Chiang rejected. At Roosevelt's insistence, Chiang allowed America to send U.S. personnel, the "Dixie Mission," to the Communist headquarters at Yennan. Mao Tse-Tung convinced Foreign Service Officer John Service and others that he sought a cooperative relationship with America (in order, among other reasons, to reduce his dependence on Russia). Before Stilwell's dismissal Americans had decidBook Details
Published
April 30, 1992
Publisher
Newark : University of Delaware Press ; 1992..
Pages
312
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780874134186